10 things to know on the Whopper

This past weekend, Burger King announced it is in talks to purchase Canadian chain Tim Hortons for $11 billion. It would give the burger company a major cut in its U.S. tax rate if it creates a holding company in Canada, as planned. Here are 10 things you need to know about the signature entree from the second-largest fast food hamburger restaurant:

1. The Whopper was introduced by Burger King in 1957 at the chain’s first restaurant in Miami. It originally sold for 37 cents, according to The Sun-Sentinel. Today, though the price depends on the region, most Whoppers cost $3.50.

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2. Burger King’s co-founder, Jim McLamore created the Whopper to compete with other rival restaurants who were selling larger burgers, The Washington Post reported in 2012. In his autobiography, McLamore said he chose the name because he knew it “would convey imagery of something big,” the newspaper said.

3. The Whopper contains a quarter-pound patty, and according to Burger King, the restaurant serves more than 11 million customers every day. Burger King, founded in 1954, as of 2013 has 13,667 restaurants in over 95 countries.

4. In May, Burger King told CNN Money that 5,000 locations would expand their breakfast menus to include, among other items, the Whopper.

5. As part of its 50th anniversary in Puerto Rico last year, an agency created a video promoting hands-free Whopper holders. However, debunking the video, Burger King said in a statement that the holders were not being produced or distributed by the chain, CNBC reported.

6. How many friends is it worth losing to get a free Whopper? One promotion by Burger King in 2009 put the value at 10 Facebook friendships. Called Whopper Sacrifice, the burger chain’s Facebook application gave users a coupon for a free burger if they deleted 10 Facebook friendships, according to The New York Times. However, Burger King deleted the application after Facebook requested changes; ultimately 234,000 people were de-friended.

7. In April, Burger King launched wi-fi in all of its U.S. locations and aptly named it WHOPPER Wi-Fi.

8. Burger King opened Whopper Bar locations, an attempt to provide customers with a casual dining experience with open kitchens, The New York Times reported in 2008. However, DNAinfo reported in 2012 that the New York location — first opened in 2010 — had been shut down several times after failing health inspections.

9. Burger King admitted in 2013 that some of its beef patties in the United Kingdom and Ireland contained horsemeat, The Guardian reported at the time. After testing at the production plant showed small traces of horse DNA, the company ended its contract with the plant.

10. Burger King launched the “Proud Whopper” last month as part of San Francisco’s LGBT Pride celebrations, TIME reported. When customers asked what made Proud Whoppers different, the reply from employees was “I don’t know.” Then the burgers were served in a Pride flag wrapper, it contained the message, “We are all the same inside.”